October is #HeadStartAwarenessMonth! Head Start programs empower both children and families by delivering essential support in early learning, health, and family well-being. Throughout October, join us in celebrating the past, present, and future of the Head Start program!

The child care industry has long been unstable, defined by poverty-level wages, high staff turnover, razor-thin margins, a shortage of child care slots and skyrocketing costs for families. Read more from Portland Press Herald Lana Cohen | she/her/hers: pressherald.com/2023/10/01/chi…

According to Maine Center for Economic Policy, at least 24,000 Mainers have left their professions within the last year because of a lack of access to childcare. Learn more from NEWS CENTER Maine: newscentermaine.com/article/money/…

Parents and caregivers need access to child care to thrive. Here are a few ways United Way of Southern Maine is tackling this issue: ✨investing in early childhood centers. ✨advocating for child care centers and workers. ✨providing pathways to employment or entrepreneurship for child care workers.

A program of Starting Strong, First4ME Portland is a two-generation framework for a coordinated birth to kindergarten-entry program that provides quality early care to support a child’s school readiness, regardless of risk factors. uwsme.org/2023/10/were-h…

🛠 New Toolkit for Employers to Support Child Care for Their Employees! Maine.gov News bestplace4workingparents.com/wp-content/upl…

"This center will provide quality child care for families at @JacksonLab and in our community for many years to come.” - Catherine Longley, the lab’s executive vice president and COO More from Mainebiz Real Estate Insider Mainebiz: mainebiz.biz/article/jackso…

"The childcare crisis should be a major red flag for everyone, not just parents...It is a systemic failure that will impact our nation's economic growth, and that affects us all." - Brad Wilson, CEO , Care.com newsweek.com/child-care-cos…

Looking for engaging and practical professional development that teachers value? Kind Mind engage teachers and parents in their emotional well-being and offer an easy-to-use program, so they can support children socially, behaviorally, and emotionally. kindmindeducation.com/PD-workshops

Join in a shared journey of learning and charting a course of action to dismantle racism in our food system and our world. 🥬🫘🥘Learn more about Food Solutions New England & register! foodsolutionsne.org/21-day-racial-…

Let's get reading! The ME Dept of Education "Read to ME Challenge" is an annual campaign to promote childhood literacy and the enjoyment of reading. Learn more from NEWS CENTER Maine: newscentermaine.com/article/news/e…

📰 It’s tax time, which can often lead to confusion for families with questions about Maine’s Dependent Care State Tax Credit. You can access this information (and more) from Maine DHHS with added context: maine.gov/dhhs/ocfs/supp…

Check out what's going on via Maine Youth Thriving! In partnership with ME Dept of Education, MRBN has designed a series of free professional development workshops specifically for educators and caregivers who work with children ages 0-8. maineresilience.org/events?EventVi…

Some days can be long with little ones! We love these simple ideas from Too Small to Fail you can do together in your home.

✨ This is a great opportunity to share your voice with Portland Library ME !

Be part of advocacy for the early childhood field in Maine! Join @maineaeyc for the Education of Young Children for Statehouse Day 2024! Register here: secure.everyaction.com/Vszfe93_iEang2…

"If child care fails, parents cannot work and businesses cannot stay open. Support of our child care system is critical to the economic stability of our communities both today and into the future." More from Bangor Daily News: bangordailynews.com/2024/03/11/opi…

🧡 Maine Families, The Opportunity Alliance, and Portland Library ME are partnering to host a very special multilingual sing-along! portlandlibrary.com/events/multili…

We love to see these innovative partnerships address community workforce and childcare needs! Thank you Association of Community College Trustees and National Head Start Association for fostering these critical collaborations. NPR Morning Edition Elissa Nadworny npr.org/2024/03/11/123…

"We often use public school in comparison: Public schools will get publicly funded regardless of the days kids are there. We want the same public funding for this subsidy program." - Heather Marden, @maineaeyc More from Caroline LeCour NEWS CENTER Maine: newscentermaine.com/article/news/c…